She studied songwriting at New York University with Paul Simon. Manchester then appeared on the Manhattan club scene, where she was discovered by Bette Midler and Barry Manilow, who took her on as a backup singer in 1971.
Her debut album, Home to Myself, was released in 1973; Manchester co-wrote many of its songs with Carole Bayer Sager. Two years later Manchester's album Melissa produced her first top ten hit, "Midnight Blue". Manchester collaborated with Kenny Loggins to co-write Loggin's 1978 hit duet with Stevie Nicks, "Whenever I Call You Friend". At this time, she guest-starred on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow to teach a main character, who was a singer-songwriter, the essentials of the craft. In 1979 Manchester made the top ten with her version of Peter Allen's "Don't Cry Out Loud", for which she received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance.
In 1980 Manchester became the first singer to have two movie themes nominated for an Academy Award—"Through The Eyes Of Love" from the film Ice Castles and "I'll Never Say Goodbye" from the film The Promise'.
Two years later she had her biggest hit "You Should Hear How She Talks About You", which won a Grammy for Best Female Vocal Performance. It was her last Top 40 Pop hit, but Manchester did well on the Adult Contemporary charts the rest of the 1980s. Her most recent big Adult Contemporary hit was a 1989 updating of Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By".
Through the 1980s and 1990s Manchester alternated recording with acting, appearing with Bette Midler in the film For the Boys and on the television series Blossom.
Melissa also wrote and starred in the musical I Sent A Letter To My Love based on the Bernice Rubens novel of the same name.
In spring 2004, Manchester returned with her first album in 10 years: When I Look Down That Road.
Come in from the Rain
Melissa Manchester Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Good old friend of mine
You've been reaching for yourself
For such a long time
There's so much to say
No need to explain
Just an open door for you
To come in from the rain
It's a long road
When you're all alone
And someone like you
Will always take the long way home
There's no right or wrong
I'm not here to blame
I just want to be the one
Who keep you from the rain
From the rain
And it looks like sunny skies
Now that I know you're alright
Time has left us
Older
And wiser
I know I am
'Cause I think of us
Like an old cliche
But it doesn't matter
'Cause I love you anyway
Come in from the rain
And it looks like sunny skies
Now that I know you're alright
Time has left us
Older
But Wiser
I know I am
And it's good to know
My best friend has come home again
And I think of us
Like an old cliche
But it doesn't matter
'Cause I love you anyway
Come in from the rain
Come in from the rain
Come in from the rain
Melissa Manchester's "Come in from the Rain" is a song about friendship and support. The lyrics open by addressing a long-time friend who has been struggling on their own journey and emphasizes the trust and comfort that comes with a past relationship. Manchester sings, "There's so much to say, no need to explain, just an open door for you to come in from the rain." The rain serves as a metaphor for the hardships and obstacles the friend has encountered. The singer assures the friend that they have a safe place to return to and that their friendship is something they can rely on.
The second verse continues with the theme of support, acknowledging that the journey is long and that some people, like the friend in the song, often "take the long way home". Manchester emphasizes that there is "no right or wrong" when it comes to finding one's way and that she is not there to blame, only to keep her friend safe from the rain. Here, the rain functions as a metaphor for difficult emotions and experiences such as loneliness, fear, and self-doubt.
The chorus reflects the reunion of the two friends, with the good news of "sunny skies" and the realization that time has matured them and their bond. The singer acknowledges that they may be like an "old cliche" but that this doesn't diminish the depth of their friendship or love. The final repetition of the chorus encourages the friend to "come in from the rain" once again.
Overall, "Come in from the Rain" is a deeply empathetic and supportive song that speaks to the power of long-term friendship to provide a safe haven from life's hardships.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, hello there
Addressing a long-time friend who has struggled for a long time to find themselves
Good old friend of mine
Acknowledging a strong friendship that has been ongoing for years
You've been reaching for yourself
Your friend has been on a journey of self-discovery
For such a long time
This journey has been lengthy and challenging
There's so much to say
There is much to discuss after so much time apart
No need to explain
No explanations are necessary for the returning friend
Just an open door for you
The singer is welcoming their friend back into their life with open arms
To come in from the rain
To seek solace after a challenging journey
It's a long road
The path to self-discovery is extensive and can take a while to travel
When you're all alone
This journey can be a solitary one
And someone like you
A person like the friend has a tendency to take the long way home
Will always take the long way home
The friend tends to approach life differently from most people
There's no right or wrong
There is no right or wrong way to live one's life
I'm not here to blame
There is no blame being assigned for the friend's journey
I just want to be the one
The singer wants to be a source of comfort for their friend
Who keep you from the rain
The artist wants to provide shelter from the storms of life
From the rain
Metaphorically, the storms of life
And it looks like sunny skies
Things are looking up for the friend now that they've returned
Now that I know you're alright
The singer is relieved to know that their friend is okay
Time has left us
Time has moved on since they last saw each other
Older
They have both grown and changed through the years
And wiser
They have gained wisdom through their experiences
I know I am
The singer has become wiser over time as well
'Cause I think of us
The artist views their relationship with the friend fondly
Like an old cliche
Their friendship is a classic trope, but that doesn't make it any less special
But it doesn't matter
The singer values their relationship with the friend above all else
'Cause I love you anyway
Regardless of any perceived flaws, the singer loves their friend unconditionally
Come in from the rain
To find safety and comfort in their friendship
And it's good to know
The artist is happy to have their friend back in their life
My best friend has come home again
The returning friend is the singer's closest companion
Come in from the rain
To find refuge in their long-standing friendship
Come in from the rain
To be protected from the harshness of life outside of their friendship
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CAROLE BAYER SAGER, MELISSA MANCHESTER, MELISSA TONI MANCHESTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lara
I'm so PROUD of my 17 yr old son ! He'll be doing back up percussion for her show August 23,2019 !
fanofdesign
What an amazing songwriter, and tremendous vocalist!
jay
Nobody could sing this song better than Melissa Manchester. She owns this song.
Kathy Millard
except Liza Minnelli
lisar915 R
She wrote this song.
Mr. Boxing Moves
Toni Tenille HANDS DOWN. But this is a very Good Rendition as well.
Troy Rash Rod Billings
Jane Oliver
fanofdesign
Toni Tennille did an amazing job with too.
RJ McAllister
Absolutely lovely, and so is the song. Melissa wrote it with Carole Bayer Sager; originally released on the Arista LP "Better Days and Happy Endings" (1976). Captain and Tennille covered it in '77 and it made the charts.
Cindy Hooper
Just love her music...just love it!